For now, McCarty's still a General

While Darren McCarty is awaiting clearance from the NHL to start playing for the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, he's going to get another game or two in with the IHL's Flint Generals. That's good news for tonight's opponent, the Port Huron Icehawks:

February 1, Port Huron Times-Herald: The former Detroit Red Wings forward has been offered a tryout with the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins, but his move to the AHL is pending approval by the National Hockey League. While he waits, he's still a member of the Flint Generals, who play the Port Huron Icehawks at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at McMorran Arena.

The Icehawks front office was informed Thursday by the Generals that McCarty would play this weekend.

Judging by league-wide trends, that would be a big boost to the ticket sales for the Saturday game.

The Generals sold out McCarty's first home game, while the league's other Michigan teams - Muskegon and Kalamazoo - each had nearly 5,000 fans the first time McCarty visited. That's about 2,000 above the season average for both teams.

"We're in Michigan, and in the Detroit area, he's a legend," Icehawks Coach Stan Drulia said. "And rightfully so. He's earned the respect of the fans."